The joys of home ownership.
Well, the old boiler finally reached the end of it's useful life and we had to get a new one installed. Nothing ever goes easy when fixing our house.
Estimates were given, deposits were taken, and work was scheduled for this Monday. I bravely volunteered to stay home and supervise as I figured a couple of hours is all they would need to hook up 1 gas line, 1 exhaust, two water lines, a thermostat wire and power to the pump. This, I reasoned, would leave me free for the afternoon to goof off.
I woke up early to clear a path for the installers so they could reach the chimney and have enough room to move the old boiler out and the new one in. I finished with half an hour to spare and after saying farewell to the mass of copper connecting the old boiler (I have no idea why it had to resemble a windows screen saver, but the old contractor must have had a sense of humor)I went upstairs to wait. The crew arrived promptly at nine and after introductions got right to work.
For the next two hours a series of gradually increasing noise emanated from the basement. I wanted to go watch, but I hate people watching me work, and figured I would leave them alone. About 10:30 the water cut off. The water line to the boiler has it's own valve, but it seems they wanted to replace that as well so they just shut off the house. I turned off the dishwasher and went back to my living room to work on a new time recorder. A particularly loud set of bangs and vibrations announced the departure of the old unit. I saw them crossing the lawn with it on the way to their truck and whispered a fond farewell.
Several minutes later I was thinking "It's quiet down there, too quiet". I went down to see what was going on and found the basement deserted. Nothing was left of the old unit or exhaust but a trail of soot and rust. Following this trail led me to a group of embarrassed techs. It seems they had dropped the new unit from a fatal height while unloading it, and would have to drive to McLean to pick up a replacement.
Gone was my idea of a free afternoon. Gone were my hopes of catching up on the dishes and laundry, Gone was my idea of flushing a toilet. They did not arrive back at the home until 1:30 and had the whole thing installed by 4:00 but the day was pretty much wasted at that point. As they left I could hear the house chuckle.
Next week we have the circuit box upgraded. I will describe the fire and/or electrocution as events warrant.
Estimates were given, deposits were taken, and work was scheduled for this Monday. I bravely volunteered to stay home and supervise as I figured a couple of hours is all they would need to hook up 1 gas line, 1 exhaust, two water lines, a thermostat wire and power to the pump. This, I reasoned, would leave me free for the afternoon to goof off.
I woke up early to clear a path for the installers so they could reach the chimney and have enough room to move the old boiler out and the new one in. I finished with half an hour to spare and after saying farewell to the mass of copper connecting the old boiler (I have no idea why it had to resemble a windows screen saver, but the old contractor must have had a sense of humor)I went upstairs to wait. The crew arrived promptly at nine and after introductions got right to work.
For the next two hours a series of gradually increasing noise emanated from the basement. I wanted to go watch, but I hate people watching me work, and figured I would leave them alone. About 10:30 the water cut off. The water line to the boiler has it's own valve, but it seems they wanted to replace that as well so they just shut off the house. I turned off the dishwasher and went back to my living room to work on a new time recorder. A particularly loud set of bangs and vibrations announced the departure of the old unit. I saw them crossing the lawn with it on the way to their truck and whispered a fond farewell.
Several minutes later I was thinking "It's quiet down there, too quiet". I went down to see what was going on and found the basement deserted. Nothing was left of the old unit or exhaust but a trail of soot and rust. Following this trail led me to a group of embarrassed techs. It seems they had dropped the new unit from a fatal height while unloading it, and would have to drive to McLean to pick up a replacement.
Gone was my idea of a free afternoon. Gone were my hopes of catching up on the dishes and laundry, Gone was my idea of flushing a toilet. They did not arrive back at the home until 1:30 and had the whole thing installed by 4:00 but the day was pretty much wasted at that point. As they left I could hear the house chuckle.
Next week we have the circuit box upgraded. I will describe the fire and/or electrocution as events warrant.